- Feb 10, 2010
- 13,640
- 10,273
That was among the ugliest wins I've ever seen.
Plus: Young guys
Minus: Old guys.
Plus: Young guys
Minus: Old guys.
Well Kuemper won a Cup 2 years ago and is paid $5 million + per, so I would say he earned paycheck tonight. As the Caps #1 goalie, he should be stealing games. Shesterkin does this most nights for the Rangers, masking the flaws of their team. Vasilevskiy masks the Bolts as well. Kuemper needs to be Kolzig like for the Caps to win games.Just finished watching. That was a horror show of a game they had no business winning.
That geriatric first line is an abomination that needs to be destroyed.
It pains me to say it but Ovie has looked awful through two games.
Kuemper totally bailed them out.
Yeesh.
Give it a few, I didn't love them either but they're smart players probably working with new interchanges and breakouts, they don't look broken or slow, just doing what might be the wrong thing at times.Obviously the first line is the biggest concern right now, and it's not particularly surprising given the recent play of those players in the past couple seasons.
But my secondary concern right now is the play of Jensen and TvR (and the defense in general). If their regression is more of a long-term thing, and not just early season/new partner/new coach jitters, that will spell a lot of issues for the back-end.
I think your edit is a better fit, let Milano and Phillips keep doing their thing, Backstrom should be able to hang there. McMichael gets real screwed though, he's going to have a hard time single-handedly generating if Kuznetsov's off and Oshie's behind the play but there isn't really a fix until somebody goes down or Mantha begins his Super Saiyan arcStrome needs to be moved to top line and top PP duty pretty much immediately. He had two fewer minutes at 5v5 than both Kuznetsov and Backstrom in a game they never led.
I'm doing something like:
Ovechkin-Strome-Wilson/Phillips
Milano-Backstrom-Wilson/Phillips
McMichael-Kuznetsov-Oshie
Malenstyn-Dowd-Protas
It's not great. I'd prefer McMichael at 2C but does Kuznetsov really move to the wing?
Really tough puzzle to figure out. Hard to imagine Backstrom or Oshie really elevating their games to a top 6 level. Ovechkin I can at least see happening as the season goes on, though of course he's had a poor start. Same with Kuznetsov I guess if he gets his head on straight.
This style of play should excite Kuzy, and it was nice seeing him fired up at the end of the game. He was also pretty engaged on PK. To play any kind of possession game, they need him to marginally step it up, and pressure opposing defenses.Strome needs to be moved to top line and top PP duty pretty much immediately. He had two fewer minutes at 5v5 than both Kuznetsov and Backstrom in a game they never led.
I'm doing something like:
Ovechkin-Strome-Wilson/Phillips
Milano-Backstrom-Wilson/Phillips
McMichael-Kuznetsov-Oshie
Malenstyn-Dowd-Protas
It's not great. I'd prefer McMichael at 2C but does Kuznetsov really move to the wing?
Really tough puzzle to figure out. Hard to imagine Backstrom or Oshie really elevating their games to a top 6 level. Ovechkin I can at least see happening as the season goes on, though of course he's had a poor start. Same with Kuznetsov I guess if he gets his head on straight.
This is why I think twabby is right about sticking Backstrom between Milano and Phillips, he's still making good touches and but with no speed there's never anyone open, so cumulatively the line just gets dragged straight into the underworld. Getting Backstrom faster linemates gives him an avenue to give and go and be a smart, handsy bumper if he's not open enough.This style of play should excite Kuzy, and it was nice seeing him fired up at the end of the game. He was also pretty engaged on PK. To play any kind of possession game, they need him to marginally step it up, and pressure opposing defenses.
I am actually most worried about Backstrom. I was pleasantly surprised by his skating in the preseason, and thought maybe he’d be effective again. But, man, he has looked totally lost (outside of operating the PP). I don’t know if it’s that he just can’t fight through NHL contact anymore with his limitations. He should be in the best shape he’s going to be after a full offseason training healthy. Maybe his timing will improve to help mitigate his athletic deficiencies. But, no way he should be getting more 5v5 time than Strome.
I’d definitely like to see CMM get some time at center, however that looks (Kuzy at wing, or Backy sitting). He’s looked confident, and is making smart plays with the puck. But, that’s obviously a change for later into the season as we see how things shake out.
Yikes at the bottom of the chart. It's not easy to make changes after a win, but they gotta make changes. One of those changes needs to be Top Line Matty P
In theory, sure. But it's not like that line was so dominant that it can't be tampered with, especially if the top six needs as much help as it does currently.If the top 3 players on the list are Phillips, Strome, and Milano I'm not sure you touch that line.
Wasn't that a girl group (excuse the term)? Daughters of Brian Wilson and John/Michelle Phillips?Strome needs to be moved to top line and top PP duty pretty much immediately. He had two fewer minutes at 5v5 than both Kuznetsov and Backstrom in a game they never led.
I'm doing something like:
Ovechkin-Strome-Wilson/Phillips
Milano-Backstrom-Wilson/Phillips
McMichael-Kuznetsov-Oshie
Malenstyn-Dowd-Protas
It's not great. I'd prefer McMichael at 2C but does Kuznetsov really move to the wing?
Really tough puzzle to figure out. Hard to imagine Backstrom or Oshie really elevating their games to a top 6 level. Ovechkin I can at least see happening as the season goes on, though of course he's had a poor start. Same with Kuznetsov I guess if he gets his head on straight.
Maybe it was for Ovie making sure that the pregame meal was catered by Mamma Lucia,I heard (on the Junks) Carbs was handing out game pucks and Ovy got one? Ponderous….